Pittsfield Seeks Public Input for Draft CDBG Annual Action Plan

03:27PM / Tuesday, April 28, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Department of Community Development has released the draft Annual Action Plan outlining how federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds will be used to address housing and community development needs in Pittsfield for the HUD Program Year 2026.

The Community Development Office, in conjunction with the City Council's subcommittee on Community and Economic Development, will hold a public hearing on May 5 at 6:00 p.m. on the proposed CDBG program budget and draft 2026 Annual Action Plan. The public hearing will be held at City Hall, 70 Allen Street, in the Council Chambers.

The hearing is part of a 30-day public review process that is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that provides an opportunity for public input on the draft plan. Through what HUD terms an entitlement grant, HUD provides the city with CDBG funding on an annual basis. The 30-day public review and comment period runs from Wednesday, April 22, 2026 until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026.

The draft 2026 Annual Action Plan proposed budget of $2.1 million consists of $1.2 million in estimated new CDBG funds and $400,000 in expected program income and reprogrammed funds as well as an estimated $500,000 in available revolving loan funds.

The Department of Community Development has proposed using CDBG money during the upcoming 2026 fiscal year for projects that include public facilities, removal of architectural barriers, public services, housing rehabilitation, economic development, clearance, planning activities, and administrative costs.

Beginning April 21, 2026, copies of the draft 2026 Annual Action Plan are available for public

review in the Community Development office, and on the city's website: www.pittsfieldma.gov/235/Community-Development-Block-Grant.

Written comments can be submitted to Community Development at any time during the 30-day comment period via email at njoyner@pittsfieldma.gov or by mail to the Department of Community Development, 70 Allen St., Room 205, Pittsfield, MA, 01201. People with special needs should contact Community Development at (413) 499-9368 or TTY 413-499-9340 prior to the public hearing and every effort will be made to accommodate their requests.

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15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports11:35AM / Sunday, October 11, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive.

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour.

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children. The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are provided as information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation. One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue.

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out.

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release.

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